Return on Innovation

The Australian Innovation Festival is a national festival established in 2002 to encourage and support networking and business opportunities for participants in the areas of research & development, and technology commercialisation, across all industry sectors.

The 2013 Australian Innovation Festival officially runs from 26 April to 31 May, with over 500 events in all States and Territories. The two Co-Chairs are Peter Westfield (Director, AusInnovation) and Hon. Greg Combet AM MP (Federal Member for Charlton and Minister for Industry and Innovation).

The 2013 Festival theme âReturn on Innovationâ showcases the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in achieving sustainable business growth. Smart thinking, productivity focus, generating ideas, innovative enterprises, skills training, networking and commercialisation are some of the key factors creating a knowledge based economy in Australia.

This Festival will also celebrate its 12th anniversary by again focusing on the 4Cs of Innovation â âCreativity, Connections, Collaboration and Commercialisationâ. These key elements are behind every major Australian innovative or entrepreneurial endeavour.

What makes this Festival special is the key role innovation plays in all industry sectors and the spread of events throughout this country. Events range from networking and business functions to museum and technology showcases; from open days and product launches to fashion parades and industry tours. Nearly every Australian industry is included from fashion to biotechnology, from information technology to manufacturing and education.

Virtually every major town and city throughout Australia has an event in the Festival. The audience is diverse as the event program. Attendees range from CEOs to school children; there are no requirements to participate. Even better, many Festival events are free

The 2013 Australian Innovation Festival aims to showcase the importance of innovation in Australiaâs economic, social and cultural environments and most importantly create a culture of innovation for the benefit of all Australians. This Festival continues to be not-for-profit initiative which inspires and reinforces our rich innovative history and entrepreneurial spirit.